The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1887-04-29
THE INTERSTATE LAW.


WASHINGTON, April 1.-THE following
embodies by far the most important action
yet taken by the Interstate Commerce
Commission, the immediate matters select
Cd TO which to append the opinions Of the
commission only affecting the interests Of
limited classes, but the opinions themselves
covering in certain respects, interpreta-
lions of the Interstate Commerce law and
determinations respecting the extent Of the
powers with which the Commission deems
itself charged:
INyE;:STATR COMMERCE COMMISSION, WASH
MGrON, April 16.-In the matter of the petition
Of the Order of Railway Conductors. In tho
matter OF the petition of the Traders and Trav-
elers' Union. An application in writing has
been made to the Commission for its answer to
the following questions propounded on behalf
Of the Order OF Railway Conductors:
First-Are railway companies prohibited from
issuing free transportation to the immediate
Families Of employees Of their own railways.
Second-Are railway companies prohibited
from issuing free or reduced transportation to
officers OF associations composed exclusively Of
railway employes while those officers are teu-
porarily out OF railway services and exclusively
employed by these associations.
Thirc-May railway companies issue passes
70 employees OF other railways on the applica
tion Of the enploye. or must such application
he is employed.
Fourth-May railway corpan,es issue FREQ or
reduced transportat to those who make rail
way service their business or trade while tenn,
poraril, out Of employment, and in search of n
Situations
Fifth-Nav railroad commands nrovide frea
TRANSFORMATION for delegates 10 the annual con-
ventions of an association composed exclusive
II OF railway employees upon certificate from
the officers OF the association that thev ara
such reureseutatiyess
Sixth-If free TRANSPORTATION NAV be fur
nished to REPRESENTATIVE, described in ouestrou
FIVE must ALI xucb renressn,a,iyes be actually
in the erlplov of some railway or may il iuclu,,
those who NAV be Temporarily out of erpIoy-
ment and those ter1porariIy engaged in other
employrnents as officers of such associations.
SEVENTH; free TRANSPORTATION is provided
for the delegates described in question five.
n.y it include members Of the immediate fam
lies OF delegates
Eighth-If free TRANSFORMATION or reduced
rates are provided for the REPRESENTATIVES o.
INV one association must the same he extended
TO all others which are composed exclusively
OF RAILWAY errpIoyes on apu,ics;ion
Another appicStiou has been made to tbs
Commission ON behalf Of the Traders. ard Trav
elers' Union. stating the system under which
an additional allowance of free baggage has
heretofore been carried br commercial travel
ers subject 10 a written ar-reen,en, for REGISTRY
and decentralization which svstern the Commits
xion is reoursted to exapina c,r.ru;,v lard a.
wise Ms If there is any reason why a railroad
cau,carv desiring to do 60 sboul, not a,,er into
such an Arrangement n grant under stated
terms an increased alowance n; free ba,
cage"
These two pe-itions nrascp;r, bv higblr "a
spertarIe ORGANIZATIONS and RAISING cnest;ons
of Immediate pr,c,:c.I i,r,,,r,a,ca .r, -.n-a
sentative OF a larye nur,her n. SIMILAR ,npIica-
.ions which have haen mad. to tho Co,nniss;o,
a,r its conservation q, ,,r,vis;o.s .. tho $40, IA
,,.p,a,a co,,,,e-ca.- ne .n,,li,, =, ~. r,r,o,,
mounts =. which .bosa n,ori.;o,. ,opcb tbs c,,.
tons of rho r.s- Tbav b.ra banr seIe..a1
s,nr,v &c -hav indicate tn, t,apar.l c,,-.c.ar a,
MI aud e-,,,la .ba ,oror,isSio, "a announce
csr,.ir corcj,, sio,,s 70 which !. hos arrived re
srec1irr i;s jurisdiction and its nov,ars
7, i ob,-,ons rror, tn. teno- q, suc, .,,,;.,
ticns as these WHICH each ne hv cvsrv -,,iI
,ha. the ir,rrass,o-, il senerallv rrsvalent that
1his Commission ba. m. ,,orer n co,st-ua IN.
,cr,re, and an,Iv tha law hr n-ali,nina-v
,r,,,,apt We arc co,.inu.,lr ,nra,Ies -
fnr decisions in advance ne 10 wbs-ber
con,non carriers said TO no willing 10 aion,
cer.ain rnerhods OF dealing with rss,act
1actirq themselves To tho n.nai,ies nrovide, NV
The statute tor violating its -,,oyisions A are
fal rea6irg of the act TO -er,,lat. cornrn.rc.
under which this Commissions is organized Nil,
show to the netitionars and others who bare
r,aac similar annI,ca,io, that no ipriel;c,;on
has be,n pivsn Ms In answe- Questions li.e
TAOS. unaer consideration An exnression Of
cu- opinio, ~, these Subjects n. This ti,,,c he
irp nei-ber n dutv in,,o.ed NOR a mower eon
-e-red b1 the s-atute womb carry with il No
i,iici.1 o.a.,cv ~ sanction. !, ,,ct ~orIs n. N,
NOR. usef,l 10 the public or tn. csrria-x ,ba,
ti,e ouinion az other men upou the same ooints
Two sections Of IN. law confer mower unon
cations ard petitions. Secv-pa cu1powsrs us.
u,,on a,,plication by "A common carrier 10 an
tl.orize such common carrier in special cases 70
rharce loss for LONGER tina, for shorter distances
over the same line and also 70 prescribe the ex-
font f relief the operat;on o, the former mart Of
The same section which n DESIGNATED common
carrier NAV from time 10 time eniov. A LARGO
number of petitions have been fled uuaer ms
section. the consideration OF which is at this
time engaging the attention OF the Commission
end NOTHING said in This onnic, Is to he treated
rs in any manner bearing thereon. tits obyious
that a.,nlica.ions like these of the railway con-
cuctors and the Traders and Travellers Union
have no relation whatever to the duties imposed
upon us by section T. And this is the only sec |
lion Of The law which the Commission has mower |
70 susncnd or relax
Section Is authorizes coup,a;nts 70 the Conn
mission and col,ers Jurisdiction TO entertain the
same II provides that ary person ..coraplain- |
1ng OF any thing done omitted to be Gore by l
INV common carrier subject TO the provisions OF |
this act in contrayeutioa O: the provisions |
thereof may apply 10 said Commission by peti. |
lion which shall briefly state :he facts Notice !
np6 ourortuuiry for answer having been given. I
unless satisfaction is made an Investigation is
required Upon such an investigation the Com. |
c.isson will necessarily entertain the considerar
fson Of the question whether the conduct com.
p;ained OF is or is not in coutrayentioa o. the !
provisions Of the law and il il so aGi,dves it is
authorized 20 issue q notice en,oininy tho |
carrier from further violation of the law and 10 !
award PREPARATION for the injury done or both |